Ok, well that was part 1 of 2 of "The Reaction." I actually really like this chapter. I had a hard time starting it. Ok... enough of my rambling.

I own nothing from X-men. Marvel does.

Morgan POV

Amy opened the door wider to let Remy and I into the house. I glanced behind me to see Amy give Remy a particularly nasty glare. I focused my attention forward, making my way into the living room. As far as I could tell, the house looked exactly the same. As I looked closer, however, I saw that it was not. Everything had a worn, almost sad, look to it. The atmosphere was not as bright and cheery as I remembered it. I guess that's what happens when someone you love disappears for two years. I sat down on the sofa, Remy sitting to my left, and Amy taking a chair directly opposite from us.

"Well," she started, "explain."

I stared at my hands, trying to come up with the right words to tell her. How do you tell someone that you were hunted down by the government, thrown into a cell, and experimented on until you couldn't bear to live anymore? How can you possibly describe the agony of being pushed to your limits and then pushed farther? How do you tell them that you ran for their own safety? How do you tell them at all?

"I don't know what to say," I finally replied. Amy let out an annoyed sigh.

"Come one Morgan, you're smarter than this. How about this, where have you been for the past two years?"

Remy took my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "I've been locked up. Some military officer, Colonel Stryker, took us. He's been doing experiments on us and…"

"Wait, wait, wait," Amy said, cutting me off. "Did you just say that our government is letting someone take people off the streets and experiment on them? That's the craziest thing I've ever heard."

"It's true!" I said, my voice rising.

"No," she said. "It can't be. It's unconstitutional. No one would ever allow it."

"Maybe they wouldn't allow it if it were regular humans that were being experimented on. But it's not. They're testing mutants. I've never lied to you Amy. You know I can't lie." The look on Amy's face told me that she was not convinced. "Amy, you know that people like me and Remy are not looked at in the same light as everyone else. People fear us and think we are a menace to society…"

"You know what I think?" she said, cutting me off again. "I think that he," she pointed an accusing finger at Remy, "had something to do with you running off. I knew that he wasn't trustworthy from the moment you told me about him. He's the one that got you into this mess. But I trusted you and your judgment. I guess I was wrong. "

"Remy is the one who got me out of that prison!" I exclaimed. "I know you don't believe what you just said. I know that you're hurt and feel betrayed that I left without any explanation but it was the only way that I could ensure that you and Tantè Cecile were safe. Stryker took Remy first and then came for me! He tested us, he hurt us, and he locked us away like animals. Hell, we were treated worse than animals."

Amy just stared at me like I was crazy. "H-how am I supposed to believe this. I-I can't grasp the fact that anyone who is supposed to serve our country would treat anyone like that."

"It's because we're mutants," I replied.

"Even still, someone would have stopped them. I refuse to believe it"

"What do you want me to say?!" I finally yelled, frustrated. "You want proof? Here's your proof!" I stood up quickly, startling both Remy and Amy, as I pulled my shirt up just enough to show the scars marring my abdomen. "These were given to me by the man who captured me! These will stay with me for the rest of my life. This is my proof to you that I have gone through hell and back, just to receive this kind of treatment from my best friend, someone who I thought would help me through anything!" I shook as I lowered my shirt, my eyes locked on her face. Amy was at a loss for words, her eyes never leaving my scars.

"Please," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "You have to believe me."

Amy finally looked up at me, tears in her brown eyes. "I'm so sorry," she whispered. She stood quickly and left the room. I looked down at my feet as I heard the front door open, then close. I covered my face with my hands, tears threatening to spill over. I never heard Remy move from the couch to stand in front of me. He took my hands from my face and silently wrapped me in his arms.

"I can't lose her," I said, my voice cracking. "We've been through so much together. She's my best friend in the whole world."

Remy laid a hand on my hair, stroking it softly. "I know Chère. I know."

We stood like that for a long time before I finally stepped away from his embrace, though his hands never left my arms. "You should go," I whispered. My eyes found his. His eyes showed concerned and caring.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yea. I need to talk to Tantè. Alone." I sounded exhausted.

Remy placed a kiss on my brow. "Alright. I'll come back tonight Voodoo."

I allowed myself a small smile as I led him to the door. Just as he got in the doorway, he turned around. "Are you su—"

I cut him off. "Yes. I'll be fine." He took my hand and kissed it. I gave him a small shove out of the door before closing it. I leaned my head up against the door, wondering about how much Tantè Cecile had heard and how much I would have to explain. I slowly made my way to the back of the house, pausing to look at the pictures scattered throughout the rooms.

I stopped at a picture form graduation. It was of Amy, Tantè Cecile, and I, taken right after the ceremony was over. Amy and I were on either side of Tantè Cecile, waving our diplomas. Tantè Cecile was laughing. Little did we know that just a week later, I would be leaving behind the ones who cared about me the most.

I finally turned towards Tantè Cecile's door. I lightly knocked on it. "Tantè Cecile?" I called, sounding so small, reminding myself of the nights when I would have nightmares about the wreck that killed my parents.

I grabbed the door handle, opening the door just a crack. "I need to talk to you."

Nice change of pace to see Morgan yelling. She's not that angry of a person. I hope ya'll enjoyed it. And of course, reviews and constructive criticism is welcome.